YET ANOTHER UNIFORM – We didn’t catch Brian Morrison in a Santa outfit, but here he is in 2010 proudly wearing a Kiwanis sweatshirt. Add his patrolman and military uniforms, and it’s clear that Morrison is a strong believer in service to the community.

Brian Morrison gives the gift of caring

When you think of Santa Claus, Barnstable Police Officer Brian Morrison probably isn’t the first person that comes to mind. First of all his uniform is dark blue, not red velvet with ermine cuffs and collars. He doesn’t soar across the sky in a sleigh, but he does fly around town to the scene of a crime in a cruiser. But one thing the two do have in common is an infectious smile and a huge heart, especially when it comes to kids and Christmas.

For the past four years Morrison has been Barnstable’s organizer for the Cape’s Police and Fire Department Challenge, a huge contributor to Hyannis radio station WCOD’s annual Stuff-a-Bus toy fundraiser that helps the Cape’s Toys for Tots program organized by the U.S. Marine Corps.

“I couldn’t begin to do this without the support from the Cape police and fire community,” said Morrison. “We have participation from just about every town on the Cape from Provincetown to Falmouth.”

And if you don’t think there is competition between the police stations and firehouses, think again.

“Every year we try to get a few more gifts than the year before,” said Morrison. “We are pretty proud of BPD’s efforts. The first year the Yarmouth Police collected the largest amount of toys, but after seeing that my fellow officers at Barnstable kicked it up and we have won the last two years in a row.”

Last year BPD collected 1,500 toys that filled many sacks for St. Nicholas to deliver to kids that otherwise might not find a toy under the tree on Dec. 25.

What exactly is the prize for winning the contest?

“Being involved in this is an emotional rollercoaster,” Morrison said. “In the end, you get a pretty happy feeling that you are able to help out some kids that have a pretty rough time most of the year. The toys they get on Christmas Day give them a little bit of joy.”

Morrison says that toys can be dropped off at any police or fire station on Dec. 9, 10, and 11. At around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday the 11th, the Cape’s police and fire departments muster at the Cape Cod Community College parking lot. From there a giant parade of fire trucks, ambulances and police cruisers drive down Route 132 with their lights ablaze and the sirens announcing their coming. They turn into the Festival Plaza, where WCOD has the school bus ready to be packed with toys.

The toy donations must be new in their original packaging and not wrapped; the Toys for Tot elves will take care of that.

“It’s all good,” said Morrison. “But I find it doesn’t really end there.”

Last year, in the days after the WCOD bus was filled and driven away, toys still poured into the Barnstable Police station on Phinney’s Lane from people who couldn’t or didn’t get their contribution in on time.

“We put out the word to area churches that we had these toys to see if they had any families in their congregations that might have a need for them,” Morrison recalled. “In all, about 40 families showed up at the station to get a much appreciated toy for their little ones.

“Like I said, being involved with this hits all of your emotions. You get a great happy feeling, but you get a little teary eyed as well.”